DO YOU CHANGE YOUR OWN OIL TOO?

While searching for a husband, one of my "requirements" was someone who could fix my car.  I drove a 1981 Toyota Celica that my dad bought new when I was 3 years old.  That car went forever.  My husband did meet the "fix my car" qualification, and I snatched him up quick.  My father-in-law drove an 18-wheeler for over 40 years and his boys were his mechanics. He loves to tell the story about the time he had to rebuild the engine in his Kenworth.  The oldest 4 boys (my husband included) took a week off of school to help.  After the third day, the school superintendent came by to see what was going on at the Stoddard house and why none of the boys were in school.  He took one look at what they were doing and told them all to keep going, that "they were receiving a better education at home" that week.  Early in our marriage, we moved to the DC Metro area and took the old Toyota Celica with us.  One day, Jeff had to work at Bolling Air Force Base and somewhere between the  guard station and the parking lot, the muffler fell off.  Jeff got out and threw it in the back seat.  He discovered that the entire exhaust pipe had rusted through and he needed to replace it.  And replace it he did, right in front of our townhouse.  Our neighbor came home and really had no idea what he was doing, but noticed it was a big project.  She asked, "Wow, do you change your own oil too?"  We wondered what she would have thought had she known he was replacing the whole exhaust pipe.  

I have (almost) always been grateful that my husband is so handy.  He keeps our cars running and is continually doing something around the house--I guess I should include that he built the said house from the ground up.  His skills have saved us a lot of money over the years, helping us to meet our financial goals.

Not all these skills need to be home or auto related.  Learning to sew, bake bread, or gaining other homemaking abilities can also help to keep money in the family coffers.

Section 8 and 9 in One for the Money by Marvin J. Ashton talk specifically about learning skills, getting an education, and investing in home ownership.  I really like the way he talked about education as not only a degree, but skills to learn--making education a continuing process.  And, when in doubt, there's You Tube.  He also covers beautifying and continually improving our homes, and using our home as an investment instead of a consumption.

I challenge you to read sections 8 and 9 of One for the Money and set a goal to do something mentioned in these sections.  Then, follow through!  

For previous posts about One for the Money, go here, here, here, and here. 

ANSWER TO MY QUESTION

Two weeks ago, we were urged to come to General Conference with a question.  I made my list of questions, and one of them was, "How do I help my family and my ward be more prepared?"

I am not sure anyone was prepared for the amazing prophetic changes made, but I listened to conference with my ears and my heart open for any phrases like, "preparedness" or "self-reliant."  Well, my friends, I was not disappointed.  Sunday morning, Elder Larry Y. Wilson was the first speaker.  He addressed my question head-on when he said, "Being spiritually self-reliant is hearing the Lord's voice through His Spirt for one's own life."  Wow.  He then went on to say, "...being familiar with the voice of the Holy Ghost is a matter of spiritual life and death."

And, if that wasn't enough, just over an hour later, President Nelson also spoke on the importance of personal revelation, and he told us how to receive it:  "Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.  Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”  

Spiritual self-reliance is a principle that is true, important, and life-saving.  I echo President Nelson, "I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation..."  I also expect to receive our prophet's promise that "...as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord give you, and as you patiently honor the Lord's timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek.  Every blessing the Lord has for you--even miracles--will follow.  That is what personal revelation will do for you."  President Nelson ended his talk with a clear self-reliance statement, "...in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."  

I challenge you to make the decision today and do what President Nelson said, "Do the spiritual work required to enjoy the git of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly."  Read, ponder, and pray about what our living prophet has told us and work to be spiritually self-reliant.  Meanwhile, I also will be working to receive guidance about how to help you be more prepared.

THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

I am a homeschool mom.  Most days it is pretty great.  The best thing about it (other then spending time with my kids) is that I get to learn amazing things.  While homeschooling, I have finally understood functions (remember Calculus?), learned the story behind each of the soldiers in the famous Iwo Jima statue, discovered the reason why the reaction of Diet Coke and Mentos makes a fountain, and so much more.  Often I think about concepts and principles differently than when I originally learned them, and sometimes there is a profound "ah-ha" moment that spills over into everyday life.

This last week, I had one of those "ah-ha" moments.  We are studying Rome...and this week specifically the fall of Rome.  My curriculum points out 4 "red flags" that were major contributors to Rome's downfall (now, I know there are others, but we are focusing on these four).
1.  Many people were poor.
2.  Entertainment was increasingly violent.
3.  The family was weakened and was no longer the basis of society.
4.  The people were no longer self-reliant.

If the purpose of History is to learn it so we do not have to repeat it, this list is pretty sobering.  Each of these points could be talked about in depth, but #4 stood out to me.

What is it about self-reliance that contributed to the fall of Rome?  It's really philosophically simple:  Without self-reliance, we loose our freedom.  Plain as that.  We will be conquered and subject to another's rule without being prepared.

Doctrine and Covenants 78:14 reveals the need for a church storehouse, and the reason is "...that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world."  If the Lord wants His church to be independent, he obviously wants the same independence for its members.  Elder Marion G. Romney (former counselor in the First Presidency) simply stated that "self-reliance is a prerequisite to the complete freedom to act."

So if “Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church[2010], 6.1.1), what area do you need to work on?

I challenge you to find an area of your life where you can become more self-reliant.  (Refer here if you need a refresher on some of the categories).  Then, do something about it.  Your freedom depends on it.